GEARMAN69

So I have finally begun my teardown and build of a 1970 L74 350 out of my junked parts car automatic Rallye 350 for use in my 4 speed Rallye. The mouse thing is because my SBO had a mouse nest in the #1 cylinder and severe rust in that one spot versus the others. I had already found mouse nests in exhaust manifold when I pulled it from car as the pipes had rotted off and found some humor in that at the time. After dropping off block to shop today , the finding are that #1 is too rusted wont clean up at 030 the others are great at STD so since I really dont want more than 030 and I want this block for date codes etc..were gonna sleeve #1 to save it. Works for me, especially considering the great deal I got on the NOS old style TRW 030 10.25:1 forged pistons ($260 NIB) I had dropped of the heads last week to get cleaned up and cut for the big valves and the heard from shop and it had really bad rust in the mouse chamber and beyond repair honestly so its pretty well junk. Good news is I that I have one of the original #6 heads that came from the 4 speed motor (and intake) plus it already had big valves from previous hot rodder owner. This is what I really wanted to do anyway to use the only two original items I had. Also headed to another shop to drop off crank today to get turned and drilled for pilot bushing.

GEARMAN69

Here is bad rusted chamber on head I am not using. Glad I had a spare. A motor that looks like this who would think it might be jacked up..haha

M-14

Cool project, buy the way... do you know mouse motor is the nickname of the belly button small block chevy?

GEARMAN69

Thanks and of course on the SBC nick name except I needed an actual mouse to pull it off !

GEARMAN69

I had to get that cylinder sleeved due to the rust so I could remain a 030 on build. Other cylinders looked great , should be ready this week for and pick up from shop next week.

pmathews

While you're at it, it would be wise to double-check the deck clearance with your new parts. After reconditioning rods, it will drop deeper in the hole, plus aftermarket pistons seem to have a shorter compression height. In hindsight, I wish that I had done that, but you're in the perfect place to get that measured before you surface (cut) the deck.

chadman

When I first read that you were putting a "mouse motor" in your Rallye 350 I thought we were going to have to hang you!

pogo69

i was thinking the same thing

GEARMAN69

I guess I was waiting for the happy new year we are in to get motivated but finally have this thing almost done and it will get run in and break in the wagon before laying into the Rallye 350. pre oiling next and some intake manifold mods.

Olds64

Well it's better late than never. Thanks for sharing the pics earlier. Let us know how the break in goes.

GEARMAN69

Will do, when its going in wagon I will start a new thread. Plan to drive wagon cross country this year , AC blowing too. Hoping for paint job as well. Likely to be in wagon all year long until the original #'s match 350 or the 403 is ready for wagon next winter. I have a good NOS set of old school high quality Johnson /Speed pro lifters to go in it.

GEARMAN69

What also funny is this engine from the bullet hole ridden rallye had a bullet thru the valve cover that broke one of the aluminum rocker bridges

Olds64

How did that happen?

GEARMAN69

In the OP to this thread pictured is the parts car Rallye that came with the 4 speed Rallye. It had been in field of the original owners after it got banged up and a brother of the divorced lady started using it for target practice and destroyed much of it several decades back and then the rain finished it. Couldn't even save the sport mirrors were shot too

Olds64

Bummer!

At least you got it out of that field and were able to use parts from it.

GEARMAN69

right ! the guy I bought cars from had gotten both from original familys so I never met them directly. I did track down the old lady that rode in the bullet holed Rallye off the dealer in 1970 San Antonio. She may still have the yellow spare wheel in her barn and I have some souvenirs of the body for wall art and she lives only a hour from my work.